Automatic machine-gun



No. 623,003 Patented .Apr. 11,1899.

- F. m. GARLAND.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

(A aplication filed Aug. 13, 1898') (No Mode l.) s Sheets-Sheet I Patented Apr. ll, I899.

' F. M. GARLAND.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE sun.

(Appliqation filed Aug. 18, 1898.)

(No Model.)

8 Sheets-Sheet 2.

i w (y 2 1 a I w,| W l In were torf W? Ww M No. 623,003. Patented Apr. ||,1|a99. F. M. GARLAND.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

(Application filed Aug. 13, 1898.) (Nu Model.) 8 SheetsSheet 4.

Ink/692L 02:

No. 623,003. Paten ted Apr. l899.

F. m. GARLAND.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

(Application filed Aug. 13, 1898.) i (No Model.) I 8 Sheets-Shset 5.

No. 623,093. Patented Apr. H, I899. RM. GARLAND.

AUTUEHATIG MACHINE GUN.

(Application filed. Aug. 13, 1898.)

8 Sheets-Sheet 6.

(No Mudei.)

minim No. 623,003. PatentedApr. II, I399. F. W. GARLAND.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

(Application filed Aug. 13, 1898.)

S Sheets-Sheet 7.

(No Model.)

Win 65565.;

Patented Apr. I899.

8 Sheets$heet 8.

Eyes/622602 F. WI. GARLAND.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

(Application filed. Aug. 13, 1898.)

(N0 Model.)

WZ tIZESSESJ UNTTE STATES- iATENi @FFTCE.

AUTOMATIC MACHlNE-GUN.

srncxnxcn'rlon forming part of Letters Application filed August 13, 1898- To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK M. GARLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Ma chine-Guns, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to a machire-gun having two barrels which are so arranged that the recoils incident to the explosions of the cartridges that are supplied from a belt are utilized to feed the cartridges and load and firethe opposite barrels alternately.

The object of the invention is the production of a reliable and accurate machinegun of this nature having simple and durable mechanisms that can be rapidly and safely 'operated automatically for feeding, loading,

and firing ammunition so as to discharge projectiles individually or in quick succession.

In the gunillustrated the cartridges, which are temporarily held by spring-clips to reverse sides of a flexible belt, are by a positive feed intermittentlyelevated into the case that incioses the mechanisms through an opening in the bottom. As the cartridges alternately'on opposite sides reach the level 1 of the barrels in which they are to be fired they are forced laterally from the belt and after being carried forward by longitudinal feeds are by transverse feeds moved sidewise' into the paths of the breech-blocks, which bear the cocking-levers, firing-pins, sears, and shell-extractors. The breech-blocks are advanced alternately at the proper times and push the cartridges into the barrels and tightly close the breeches until the cartridges have been fired and the recoil utilized. Then the breech-blocks are moved backwardly and withdraw the exploded cartridge-shells.

The recoil of an exploding cartridge in a barrel causes the backward movement of that barrel and its breech-block, and this is transmitted by connected piston's through the medium of a confined fluid to pistons connected with the other barrel and breech-block. in

such manner that the latterbreech-block is ergy has'bhen utilized to load the' opposite iPatent No. 623,003, dated April 11, 1899.

Serial No. 688,537. (No niodel.)

forward by a spring. and its breech-block pulled farther ba k in order to extract the exploded shell and permit the placing of another cartridge in position to be loaded by thenext forward movement of the withdrawn breech-block into the empty barrel when the loaded barrel is fired. The transverse movements of the cartridges discharge the exploded shells th'roughopenings in the sides of the case, and the belt as its feed continues passes out. through an opening in the top of the case. The movement of'a cartridge, into the path of a breech-block is accomplishedby a trans- Verse feed which is set in operationas the empty barrel nears the end of its forward movement,- and the movement of this transverse feed putls the trigger and causes the barrel that was loaded by the firing of the first barrel to be fired and inits turn cause the reloading of the first barreL,

After a cartridge has been loaded into one barrel, pulling a trigger causes the transverse feed to act and place a cartridge in position to be loaded into the empty barrel, which action .fires the loaded barrel. The firing of either barrel will feed the cartridges and load and fire the other barrel as long as the trigger is pulled and cartridges are supplied. The barrels may be fired individually as trigger, which, if held pulled, allows the loading and firing of the barrels alternately to continue automatically until the supply of ammunition is exhausted.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a plan of a gun that embodies the invention. Fig. 2-is a side elevation of this gun. Fig. 3 is a view lookingtoward the muzzles of the barrels. Fig. 4 is a plan of the outer ends of the barrels with the spring-frame cut in section. Fig. 5 is a view of the pistol-grip, showing the trigger connection. Fig. 6 is a plan of the operating mechanism, with the casing cut in central section. Fig. 7 is a central vertical sectional view of the mechanisms. Fig. 8 is an enlarged view looking at the buttsection ot' the casing from the front. Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the casing. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section of the butt portion of the cas g Fig. 11 isaside elevation of'the belt feeding chanism. Fig. 12 is a plan of the barrel the barrel that hasbeen fired is drawn belt feedihg mechanism. Fig. 13 is a side slowly as desired by pulling and releasing the block closed, looking from the inside; Fig.

14 is a similar view of a barrel-frame with the breech-blockopened, looking from the outside. Fig. 15 is a plan ofa barrel-frame with the breech-block closed. Fig. 16 is a plan of a barrel-frame with the breech-block opened. Fig. 1-7 is a side elevation of th'e-breeclrblock. Fig. 18 is an end elevation of the breechblock. Fig. 19 is a central longitudinal sec-' tion ofthe breech-block. Fig. 20 is a view' of one of the buttons which may be employed.

to unlock the recoil-blocks. Fig. 21 isa transverse section of the casing, looking toward the front. Fig. 22 is a vertical section of the front part of the casing. Fig. 23 is a detail view of the trigger-slides.

-The barrels 1, which may have a bore of any caliber, extend forward side by side from the front end of the casing 2, which incloses the operating mechanisms and to whicliare attached'ordinary trunnions 3, shoulder-rest 4, pistol-grip 5, and sights 6. The casing is shown as made of two cylindrical sections,and portions of the Walls are removable in order that the mechanisms may be uncovered for inspection. Posts 7 are secured to the front end of the casing, and to the ends of these posts a cross-head 8 is attached. The bar rels slide through the end Wall of the casing and through this cross-head, which is perforated for the barrels and recessed to receive collars 9, secured to the barrels. Springs 10 are coiled about the barrels between the collars and a yoke 11 that is adjustably joined to the heads 13 of frames 14, each of which is'connected by a rod 15'with a piston 16 in a cylinder 17, that is formed in the butt-section of the casing. Movable in guideways in the barrel-frames toward and from the hreeches of the barrels are the breech-blocks 1S. Levers 19 are pivoted to the breech-blocks, and the long arms of these levers are connected with recoil-blocks 20, which are movable in guideways in the frames, while the short arms are attached to rods 21, that are connected with pistons22, which move in cylinders 23, formed in the butt-section of the casing beneath the cylinders 17, Figs. 10 and 13 to 16.

The cylinders 17 and 23 open into acornmon chamber 24 at the rear of the butt-section of the casing, while at the front the cylin place shuts of all communication between the passages. This-fluid ca'nfiow in, and out of the rear ends of the cylinders freely. At the front ends the fluid can flow freely from the chamber 26 to the chamber 25, for'the valve yields to flow in that direction; but the flow will be somewhat restrictedin the opposite direction, depending uponthe position of the valve, Figs. (Ho 10.

Levers 31 are pivoted in mortises in thefbarrel-frames in such positions that when only subjected to the thrust of their springs they lt ck therecoil-blocks in the lower gnideways of the,- frames against the backing-blocks 32. When the recoil-blocks are locked against upward movement by these levers,.the back ward movements of the barrel-frames carry back the breech-blocks, together with the recoil-blocks, so that the pistons connected with these parts move together equal distances. their backward movements the upper ends of the locking-levers engage fingers 33, pr0ject'- ing from the frames 34-, that support theacunlockthe recoil-blocks. When the barrelframes. reach the end of. the backward movements caused by the explosive effects of the cartridges that are fired and the recoil-blocks are unlocked, the frames and barrels ere drawn forward by the springs.

The forward movements of the upper pistons drive the fluid in the cylinders,so as toforce the lower pistons farther backward, and thebackward pull of these pistons causes the breech-block levers: 1 to first oscillate the recoil-blocks upfrom the backing-b'locksinto the upper guideyvays in the frames and then to move backward while As the frames approach the ends of tuating mechanisms,and are so moved as to the barrel-frames are being drawn forward, f

The backward movements of the recoil-blocks and the connected breech-blocks open the breeches of the barrels, Figs. 13 to 16.

When a barrel is fired, the recoil incident to the explosion of thecartridge, through the breech-block, recoil-lever, and recoilblock, drives the frame of that barrel, togetlaer with the barrel, backward, and the barrel-frame piston and the recoil-lever piston move together the same distance, for the recoil-block is locked. The eifect of this is to drive the fluid from the back ends of the cylinders and rear chamber on one side into the back ends of the cylinders on the opposite side, and-this, as the barrel on that side has been drawn forwardby its spring, forces the recoil-lever piston "that is back on that" ter the explosive energy has expended itself and the breech-block onthe empty side has been pushed home and becomes locked the spring of the barrel that was thrown back by the firing draws that barrel forward, and

the forward movement of this barrel, as stated, so moves its connected piston that the fluid is forcedfrom the front of the upper cylinder on that side into the front of the lower cylinder on the same side'and causes the lower piston, which is connected with the recoil-lever on that side,:to be moved farther back and open its breech-block. In other words,.when a barrel is fired its frame-piston and recoil-lever piston are moved'back together until the explosive energy has accomplished its work of thrustin g forward the breech-block of the otherbarrel. Then the forward, and this movement causes a flow of the fluid in such manner as to move the pis-:-

ton and connected recoil-block that has been unlocked backward and withdraw the breechblock of' that barrel, so as to extract the ex ploded shell and be in position to load another cartridge into the empty barrel. .The recoil drives back the upper and lower pistons on' one side together and displaces the fluid, so as to move the lower piston on the opposite side forward a distance equal'to their combined movements, and thus completely close the breech-block on the side that was not fired. Then the upper piston moves forward as the tired barrel returns to normal position, and the lower piston is moved backward to open its breech-block, in which position it remains until the loaded barrel is fired. V

The breech-blocks are provided with firingpins 35, that are normally thrust forward by springs 36, and they have extracting-arms 37 that are loosely'placed in grooves in the upper and lower parts of the breech-blocks. The extracting-arms are arranged to travel in grooves in the barrel-frames, so as to-guide the blocks in their movements. Cooking-levers 3S are pivoted in mortises in the blocks, so as to engage grooves in the heads of the firing-pins. These levers, when the breechblocks are drawn backward, engage cockinglugs 39, secured to the casing, and are oscillated so that the pins are drawn backward and their springs made tense. When the springs are compressed, sear-levers 40, pivotally mounted upon the blocks, engage notches and retain the cocking-levers, with the springs under tension.

41, which coiiperate with the armsof the transverse feeds, Figs. 15 to 19.

One of the recoil piston rods may be prothe other barrel-frame.

Projecting from. the innersides of the breech-blocks are cams in sockets in such positions that when forced inwardly their shanks will project into the paths of the recoil-block-locking levers and so'oseillate these levers as to unlock the recoil-blocks and allow the breech-blocks to be opened, Figs. 15, 16, and 20.

v A pair of feed-levers 46 are pivotally mounted upon the mechanism-supporting frames, and these levers are connected by rods 47 with pawl-plates 48, that carry pawls tE), which are arranged to engage teeth in and by forward and backward movements to intermittently advance ratchet-wheels 50. These ratchetwheels are connected with a toothed feedwheel 51, and the shaft of this wheel bears a gear 52, that meshes with a gear 53,.meshin'g with a gear 54, that is in mesh with a gear 55.0n the shaft of another toothed feed-wheel 56. Connected with the latter feed-wheel are ratchet-wheels 57, and arranged to engage with the teeth of these is-a spring-pawl 58. The levers 46 are arranged to be oscillated by studs. 59, ,projectingfrom the barrelrframes, Figs. 6, 7, l1, and 12.

The cartridge-belt employed with this gun is provided with teeth that will mesh with the teeth of the feed-wheels, which are intermittently advanced first by the movement of one barrel-frame and then by the movement of that the feed-wheels move together, and the pawl 58 prevents'the belt from pulling back after being elevated. The upper end of the pawl 58 is extended .through the top of the casing, so that it may be reached from the exterior, and, if it is desired to remove a belt thathas been started in the gun, this pawl may'release the teeth of the ratchet-wheels The gears require IOO Y57, and then the belt will run back by gravity through the bottom of the casing, Figs. 7 and 11.v

The transverse feed-arms 60 are secured to shafts mounted in the heads 13 of the barrel-frames. These shafts are provided with springs 61 under such .tension that they tend to rotate the shafts and swing the arms toward the axes of the barrels. Ilhe front end. of the springs are connected with adjustingnuts 62, by means of which the tensions of the springs can be regulated. 'These armsare provided with rolls 63, arranged in the paths of the cams 41 on the breech-blocks, so that when the breech-blocks are at the forward limits of their movements the cams force the arms outwardly against the tensions of their springs. When the arms are forced outwardly, the ends of levers 64:, carried in recesses in the heads of the barrel-frames, are

by springs forced beneath shoulders (55, so as to hold the arms with the springs tense.

When the barrel-frames are forced backward clips on opposite side of the belt. Swinging tripping-bar 09 and are oscillated so as to release the arms and allow their springs to throw them outwardly and force the car-- bridges transversely into line with the breechblocks and barrels. As the breech-blocks move forward to push the cartridges into the barrels the cams carried by the breech-blocks again oscillate the arms and place their springs under tension, Figs. 6, 7, 21, and 22.

The tripping-bar 69- is mounted upon a plunger 70, that is normally held raised by a spring 71. The lower end of this plunger is connected with a rocker-arm 72, mounted on a shaft 73, supported by brackets attached to the casing. This shaft also has a rockerarm 74, which by a rod 75 is connected with the trigger 76 of the pistol-grip 5. tripping-bar is in its raised position, the levers 64 in their forward movement will not be engaged and oscillated; but when the trigger is pulled and the tripping-bar drawn downward the forward movements of the that their springs will throw them, Figs. 5,- 7,

\ of the transverse feed-arms 60.

2'1, and 22.

Supported by a part ofthe casing in front of the heads of the barre-Lframes are a pair of transverse slides, 77 and 78. These slides lie side by side and extend transversely of the casing, and between ,portions of them is a spring-'79, that tends to thrust themin opposite directions. -'Pro 'ecting rearwardly from the end of one slide is a stud 80, and projecting rearwardly from the upper part of the same slide is a stud 81, while projecting from the end of the other slide is a stud 82, and projectingfrom the upper part of that slide is a stud 83, Fig. 23. These studs project rearwardly in such manner that when the barrels are forward and the breech-blocks close the breeches the stud 80 extends by the side of one of the firing-sears 40 and the stud 81 on the same slide extends by the side of a shoulder on the transverse feed-arm on the opposite side of the casing, while the stud 82 extends by the side of the other firing-sear and the stud 83 on the slide with the stud 52 extends by the side of a shoulder on the other Vhen these arms are thrown by their springs to transversely feed cartridges, the shoulders at their When theupper ends engage the studs 81 and S3 and drive the slides 77'and v78 so that the studs 80 and 82 move the sears out of engagement with the cocking-levers and allow the firingpins to be thrown by thcir springs for exploding the cartridges. The pulling of the pistongrip trigger draws the tripping-bar so that thetransverse feed-arm-holding lever that is forward is tripped and allows the transverse-feed-arm on that side to swing outwardly and carry a cartridge into line with the breech-block on that side. This movement of the transverse feed-arm on this side so drives the trigger-slide that the firingpin on the other side is allowed to explode the cartride in the barrel on that side, and this, as stated, causes the extraction of the shell which is exploded and the loading of a carits loading. As long as the pistol-grip trigger is pulled 'a transverse feeding-arm will be released at each forward movement of a barrel, and the releasing at this lever places a cartridge into position to be loaded on its own side and fires a cartridge that has been loaded into the barrel on'the opposite side.

I claim as my invention- 1. A machine-gun having a casing, barrels movably supported by the casing, pistons connected with the barrels, breech-blocks movable to and from the breeches of the barrels,'

movablysuppori ed by the casing, pistons con-- nected with the barrels, breech-blocks movable to and from the breeches of the barrels, pistons connected with the breech blocks, fluid-cylinders for receiving the pistons, said cylinders opening to a common chamber in front of the pistons and to a common chamber back of the pistons, and springs arranged to hold the barrels forward, substantially as specified. Y

3. A machine-gun having a casing, barrels movably supported by the casing, pistons connected with the barrels, breech-blocks movable to and from the breeches of the barrels, pistons connected with the breech blocks, fluid-cylinders for receiving the pistons, said cylinders opening to a common chamber in front of the pistons and to a common chamber back of the pistons, a spring-frame connected with the casing, a yoke adjustably connected with the spring-frame, and spun nected with the barrels, breech-blocks movable to and from the breeches of the barrels,

pistons connected with the breech-blocks,

fluid-cylinders for receiving the pistons, said cylinders opening to a common chamber in front of the pistons and to a common chamber back of the pistons, and a valve that permits the free flow of fluid in one direction but restricts the flow of fluid in the opposite direction located in the passage between the front ends of the upper cylinders and the front common chamber,substantially as specified. e

5. A machine-gun having a casing, barrels removably supported by the casing, pistons connected with the barrels, breech-blocks movable to and from the breeches'of the barrels, firing-pins and extractor-fingers carried by the breech-blocks, pistons connected with the breech-blocks, and fluid-cylinders for receiving the pistons, said cylinders opening to a common chamber in front of the pistons and to a common chamber back of the pistons,

substantially as specified. (3. A machine-gun having a casing, barrel movably supported by the casing, pistons connected with the barrels, breech-blocks movable to and from the breeches of the barrels, spring firing-pins, extractor-fingers, cockinglevers and scars carried by thebreech-blocks, pistons connected with the breech-blockmand fluid-cylinders for receiving the pistons, said v cylinders opening to a common chamber in front of the'pistons and to a common chamber each of the pistons, substantially as specified.

7. A machine-gun having a casing, barrels movably supported by the casing, pistons connected with thbarrels, reciprocating breechblocks movable to and from the breeches of' the barrels, recoil-blocks loosely connected'so' asto have a reciprocation with and oscillation independent of-the breech-blocks,pistons connected with the breech-blocks, and fluidcylinders for receiving the pistons, substantially as specified.

8'. A machine-gun havinga casing,barrels movably supported by the casing, pistons connected with the barrels, reciprocating breechblocks movable to and from the breeches of the barrels, recoil-levers pivotal-1y connected with the breech-blocks, recoil-blocks connected with the recoil-levers, pistons connected with the rccoil-lvers,and fluid-cylindersfor receiving the pistons, substantially.

as specified.

9. A machine-gun having a casing,-barrels moyably supported by the casin g, pistons connected with the barrels, reciprocating breechblocks movable to and from the breeches of the barrels, recoil-levers pivotally connected with the breech-blocks, recoil-blocks connected with the recoil-levers, recoil-blocklocking levers movable with the barrels, pistons connected with the recoil-levers, and fluid-cylinders for receiving the pistons, substantially as specified.

10. A machine-gun having a casing, barrels movably supported by the casing, barrelframes connected with the barrels, pistons connected with the barrehframes, reciprocating breech-blocks movable in guideways in the barrel-frames to and from the breeches of the barrels, recoil-blocks connected with the breech-blocks and movable in guideways in the barrel-frames, pistons connected with the breech-blocks and recoil-blocks,and fluidcylinders for receiving the pistons, substantiallyas specified. 1

11. A machine-gun having a casing, barrels movably supported by the casing, barrelframes connected with the barrels, pistons connected with the barrel-frames, reciprocating breech-blocks movable in guideways in the frames, pistons connected with the breechblocks, movable cartridge-supports borne by l the barrel-frames, and fluid-cylinders for receiving the pistons, substantially as specified.

12. A machine-gun having a casing, barrels movably supported by the casing, pistons connected with the barrels, breech-blocks movable to and from the breeches of the barrels, pistons connected with the breechblocks, fluid-cylinders for receiving the pistons, cams mounted upon and movable with the breech-blocks, and transverse feeds arranged to be moved by the cams, substantially as specified.

substantially as specified.

. let. A machine-gun having a casing, barrels movably supported by the casing, pistons connected with the barrels, breech-blocks movable to and from the breeches of the barrels, pistons connected with the breechblocks, fluid-cylinders for receiving the pistons, feed mechanisms for elevating the cartridges to the level of the barrels,-and mechanisms for feedingthe cartridges transversely into line with the barrels,substantially as specified.

15. A machine-gun having a casing, barrels mjvably supported 'by the casing, pistons connected with the barrels, breech-blocks movable to and from the breeches of the barrels, pistons connected with the breechtons, feed mechanisms for elevating, the car tridges, mechanisms for forcing the cartridges laterally, and mechanisms for feeding the cartridges into line with the barrels, substantially as specified.

blocks, fluid-cylinders for receiving the pis- 6 "eeaoofs movable to and from thebreeches of the barrels, pistons connected with the breechblocks, fluid-cylinders for receiving the pistons, feed mechanisms for elevating the cartridges, mechanisms for feeding the car- (ridges transversely into line with the barrels, and trigger-slides moved by the move ments of the transverse feeding mechanisms for releasing the firing-pinii 'substantiallyasi specified.

17. A machine-gun havinga casi ng, barrels movably supported by the casi n g pistons con-. nected with the barrels, breech-blocks movable to and from the breeches ofvthe barrels, pistons connected with 'theCbi'eech -blocks,

- fluid-cylinders for receiving the pistons, feed mechanisms for elevating the cartridges,

mechanisms forfeeding thecartridges trapsversely intoline with the barrels,cam's on the breech-blocks for moving the transverse feeds inwardly, springs for moving the transverse feeds outwardly, and trigger-slides moved by the movements of the transverse feeds, substantially as specified.

I movab'lysupported by the casing, pistons con-' .nected with the barrels, breech-blocks mov- 18. Amachine-gun havingacasing, barrels able to and from the breeches of the'barrels, pistons connected with the breech blocks, fluid-cylinders for receiving the pistons, feed mechanisms for elevating the cartridges, mechanisms for feeding the cartridges transversely into line with the barrels, cams on the breech-blocks for moving the transverse feeds inwardly, springs for moving the transverse feeds outwardly, fingers for forcing the cartridges laterally from 'the belt,-mounted upon the transverse feeds, and trigger-slides moved 7 by the movements of the transverse feeds,sub-

, stantiall-y as specified.

19. A machine-gun havinga casing, barrels movably supported by the casing, pistons connected with the barrels, breech-blocks movabletoand from the breeches of the barrels,

. pistonslconnected with the breech-blocks,

fluid-cylinders for receiving the pistons, feed mechanisms for elevating the cartridges, camsion the breech-blocks for moving the transverse feeds inwardly, springs for moving the transverse feeds outwardly, levers holding the transverse feeds with the springs under tension, a tripping-bar, and a trigger connected with the tripping-bar and arranged to draw the tripping bar into the path of the levels, substantially as specified.

20. A machine' gun having a casing, barrels mo'vably supported bythe casing, pistons connected with the barrels, reciprocating breechblocks movable to and from the breeches of the barrels, recoil-levers pivotally connected with the breech-blocks, recoilblocks connected with therecoil-levers, piston-rods connected with, the recoil-levers, pistons connected with the piston-rods, fluid-cylinders ing the firing-pin forward and the eitractorfingers backward,substantially as specified.

22. A transverse feed mechanism for an automatic machine-gun consisting of an arm, a finger projecting rearwardly from the arm, a shaft supporting the arm, a spring for turning the shaft in. one direction and an adjusting device for regulating the tension of the spring, substantially as specified.

23. An elevating feed mechanismvfor an automatic machine-gun consisting of a pair of independentlyoscillating levers, pawls arranged to be oscillated b'yihe movements of the levers,,,ratchet-wheels intermittently advanced first by one'andth'en by the other pawl, and toothed wheels connected with and intermittently advanced with the ratchetwheels, substantially as specified.

24. A firing mechanism; for an automatic machine-gun consisting of a pair of transversely-moving slides thrust in opposite directions by a yieldin g force, breech-blocks with firing-pins,- cockinglevers and sears, studs projecting from the slides into the paths of thesearstrahsversel y-movin g arms,sprin gs for throwingthe arms, studs projecting from the slides into the paths of the arms, levers for retaining the arms from movement, a tripping-bar in the paths of' the arm-levers, and atrigger connected with the tripping-bar, substantially as specified.

25. In combination with the firing mechanisms of an automatic machine-gun having reciprocating barrels, trigger-slides movable transversely of the barrels, a spring for thrusting the slides'from each other, studs projecting from the slides in position to be engaged for forcing the slides against the thrust of the spring, and studs projecting from the slides in position to engage the firing-sears, substantially as specified.

26. In combination withthe feeding and firing mechanisms of an automatic machine-gun having reciprocating barrels, frames attached to and movable with the barrels,breeoh-blocks bearing firing pins, cocking-levers and sears movable in guideways in the barrel-frames, recoil-blocks movable in guideways in the barrel-frames, levers pivotally connecting the re coil-blocks with the breech-blocks, and levers mounted in the frames-and adapted to lock the recoil-blocks when the barrels are at the forward limits of their movements, substantially as specified.

27 In a machine-gun having a casing, barrels movably supported by the casin g, pistons connected with the barrels, breech-blocks movable to and from the brooches of the bar- 2S. 'Amachine-gnn having a casing barrels movably supported by the casing, pistons con-- nected with the-barrels, breech-blocks movable to and from the breeches of the barrels,

- pistons connected with the breech-blocks,

fluid-cylinders for receiving the pist0ns,'feed ing mechanisms for elevating the cartridges, mechanisms for moving the cartridges laterally, mechanisms for feeding the cartridges longitudinally, transverse feeding mechanisms for passing, the cartridges into line with the breech-blocks, and a trigger mechanism operated by the movements of thetransverse geeding mechanisms, substantially as specied.

I 29. Amachine-gun havingacasing, barrels movably'snpported by the casing, pistons connected withthe barrels, breech-blocks movpistons connected with the breechblocks, fluid-cylinders for receiving thepistons, feeding mechanisms for elevating the cartridges, feedin g mechanisms for moving the cartridges into the paths of the breech-blocks, and a trigger mechanism operated by the movements of the feeding mechanisms, substantially as specified.

FRANK M. GARLAND. VVi't-n'esses HARRY R. WILLIAMS,

E. J. HYDE.

able to and from the breeches of the barrels, 

